P8PI Sole So the Combo Buttons Didn't N .J

cellent condition, reports Lee, except dience investigated, and found a there was no air pressure in the con 39-year-old tourist from Hoboken, ¥8)( P8PI sole so the combo buttons didn't N .J. trapped in a walled-in opera box change registration. Next, Lee at the top of a stairway. Paramedics, visited Knoxville and the Tennessee employing a block and tackle, res Theatre on Gay St. He was again cued the victim who said he was rob treated courteously by the manager bed of $900 and beaten in the theatre and permitted ample time to play the three nights previously. A broken organ, which he had not experienced ankle and head cut were reminders since 1978. He reports that the thea that the spirit of Ming the Merciless tre, organ and the red and gold con prevailed. sole are in remarkably good condi tion, adding "this has to be one of the better installations in the country Does anyone have a spare 3 or 4 today." manual Wurlitzer console they'll sell But is it pipe organs which inspire to a TO club in Scotland? The East those long drives from Lee's Nash Kilbride Cinema Organ Society has ville home? Not entirely. The guy is a Conducted . by Stu Green bought the 2/ l O from the Edinburgh football nut, and he goes where the Victoria Cinema, the last Wurlitzer college games are played. But he ad left in Robert Burns country. They Readers are encouraged to submit in mits to the added incentive for those want to enlarge it by about 6 ranks teresting sidelights on the organ hob long drives if there are also pipes at but there is no room for expansion by (exclusive of chapter news items}, the end of the rainbow. material they believe will be of general on the original console. The cost of a interest about local organ activities new console would be prohibitive, and installations, and the people who says Cyril Wood, the club's secre work at the hobby. We know "there's tary, so they will opt for a used key VOX POPS in them there chapters " A new dimension was added to the desk if one is available. We'll gladly and if requires only a 1c postcard to movie program during a showing of forward any pertinent information. get the message to the VOX POPS Flash Gordon recently in Ogden, Editor, Box 3564 , Granada Hills, California 91344. If the contributor Utah's Orpheum Theatre. The inci can spare a 18¢ stamp , please include dent described as ''The Phan ton of Our man in South Africa, Arthur a contrasty black and white photo the Orpheum,'' but theatre and Hovis, informs us that the4/14 Wur which need not be returned. police officers found it far from litzer in the 20th Century Theatre in amusing. Patrons told police that Johannesburg had the distinction of during the movie, screams for help being the last new Wurli to be in Some time ago we reported the ef were heard, coming from behind the stalled in a major theatre anywhere forts of a small dedicated group of screen. Two police officers in the au- - 1940. Arthur says it is very highly enthusiasts in Lockport, N. Y. which hoped to install a theatre organ in the Palace Theatre there. According to prime mover Gregory Nellist the deal BRING ME THE collapsed due to complications with EARTHLING, GORDON. the owners of the house. That is not the end of the story. A nearby senior citizens home recently spent $4,000 to build a pipe chamber to accommo date the instrument which was to have gone into the Palace. This may be a theatre-organ first - an install ation in a senior citizens home. Watch these pages as the story develops. HELP! ~ l'VE GOT Tennessee A TOSer Lee Green A BROKEN visited two original 3/ 13 Wurlitzer theatre installations in his state dur TIBIA! ing November last, and found both in very good condition and manage ment cooperative. The first was the Orpheum on Main St. in Memphis. The manager permitted Lee to play before the evening show. The dome theatre and organ were both in ex- 22 THEATRE ORGAN APRIL/ MAY 1981 unified, with most voices available at tried to hold the plug into the socket. four pitches. The design was by It was a Communion service with a South Africa's prominent organist, lot of playing. Then, the plug started Dean Herrick. It is currently in smoking. A day later, we found that stalled in a former church hall in the hot plug had been laid on a cush Knysna and is owned by Eric ioned seat and it burned its way Schroder. through. Bert says, "It's a wonder we didn't have a fire." Pursuant to its policy of trying out ~ new ventures, the Radio City Music The North Texas ATOS Chapter Hall on January 24th, 25th, and had a bright idea; why not stage an 26th, presented a very rare film, old fashioned movie show at old made in 1927, one which runs for fashioned prices? They planned it over four hours. It was Abel Gance's for Dallas' John Beck Hall which classic silent Napoleon, which never houses the former El Paso Plaza achieved status due to its limited Theatre 3/15 Wurlitzer. Then they showing originally. For the Music talked Charlie Evans into accom Hall performances, a new and orig panying the chosen feature film, inal score was composed by Carmine Broken Blossoms, with Lillian Gish Coppola and played by the 60-piece David Peckham . He attracted a larger than usual and Richard Barthelmes. Charlie put American Symphony Orchestra and audience. a lot of effort into selecting his score, organist Leonard Raver of the New mostly from his own library. Show York Philharmonic and teacher at house organist Tom Grierson. Twen night was January 30th and the film Juilliard. ty years have passed since that mile played to a full house. The raves Raver was loud in his praise for the s tone in David's life, and now he has which followed the performance MH Wurlitzer. "I've been having been making a name for himself were another type of music. But, you the most wonderful treat, living a at consoles in upstate New York. His ask, how does this differ from all the dream come true. The organ is prob latest achievement occurred on Jan other silent movie shows described in ably the last of the great theatre uary 16th when he played before his these pages? The difference was the organs and any organist would give largest audience at Rochester's Au admission price - fifty cents his eyeteeth to play it. With four ditorium Theatre. At the ex-Palace ($0.50!). It was partly an effort to at manuals, full pedal-board, 4300 console, he entertained 1433 devotees tract new members, and with admis pipes and even a grand piano built in in a varied program. Included was a sion prices to movies edging upward to it, it is also notable for its brass novel treatment of E.T. Paull's from $5 .00 and live show admissions and tremolos." "The Midnight Fire Alarm" which gone through the roof, chances of utilized photos and Currier & Ives success are great. sketches on slides to illustrate old But how do they do it for half a New Yorkers who heard Christ time fire-fighting. David also accom buck? mas music clanging from the panied Teddy at the Throttle starring Carillon in St. Patrick's Cathedral a very young Gloria Swanson and were actually hearing Lee Erwin, on Wallace Beery. Even in blustery While visiting Utah over the coded tape or live. Lee's interest in weather, the lure of David Peckham Christmas holidays, Californian El Carillons started when the very able playing the well-maintained 4/22 bert Dawson did some sleuthing for Don Schwing (who services the Wurlitzer was a potent magnet for us on local organ matters. In Salt ATOS 2/ 13 "Little Mother" in Car folks who would otherwise have not Lake City he learned that work on negie Hall Cinema) was called on to braved the elements. Dr. Conrad Jenson's home installa devise an electronic system to ring tion is progressing again after a long the huge bells. Don and Lee worked delay caused by puzzling technical ~ogether on the project and Lee en Talk about troubles connected difficulties. Cal Christensen is now coded the tapes which control the with pipe organs! Bert Buhrman, or working on the 14-ranker (plus ringing mechanism. But Lee played ganist of the School of the Ozarks, piano) and has solved some major it live for the Christmas midnight has had them recently. ''The 3/ 15 problems. And Larry Bray has made Mass, broadcast on national TV. Wurlitzer's reservoirs had a much some changes in his Organ Loft Lee says, "Interest in theatre or needed releathering, but the trems building to enhance the sound of the gans has some interesting side ef got messed up in the aftermath. 5/34 Wurli. He has added a sound fects." We're trying to get the fellow who ing board to reflect the music so did the work, back to get them in "you're really surrounded by the ~ order.'' organ. The chambers go right When organist David Peckham While the chapel's Skinner is around you. It's more than stereo - was three weeks old in 1960, his down, a Hammond is being used.

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